Mississauga mayor-elect Bonnie Crombie once suggested it would be inappropriate for “Hurricane” Hazel McCallion to make an endorsement in the race to replace her.

But things changed somewhere along the path to victory.

Crombie, a city councillor and former Liberal MP, cruised to victory Monday night over former Liberal MPP and federal cabinet minister Steve Mahoney. She captured 102,346 votes — or roughly 64 per cent of the total cast — while Mahoney finished well-back with 46,224.

The huge victory may be seen as a surprise considering the race was previously considered one of the tightest in Ontario, with two experienced candidates battling it out in the first real contest in the city in decades.

But that was all before McCallion, who at age 93 opted to retire after 36 years at the helm of Canada’s sixth largest city, anointed her successor.

Forum Research polls in April, July, and August showed the race in a statistical tie.

A survey from Sept. 30 suggested Mahoney was actually moving ahead and besting Crombie on a number of key attributes, including best vision for the city and best transit plan.

But, just two weeks later, McCallion changed the entire game.

Though she had previously pledged to stay neutral, McCallion urged voters to rally behind Crombie during a speech at a Chinese restaurant, The Globe and Mail reports.

A 53-second clip of McCallion’s speech was posted prominently to Crombie’s campaign website.

“I say to you, look at the programs — you have to — of both candidates, the chief candidates that are running. And I have every confidence that when you review it, that you will vote for Bonnie Crombie,” McCallion said.

“I think you know me well and I say it the way it is. Not politically. I’m saying it because of my experience working with her.”

While all of this may make for smart politics, some may find it strange considering what Crombie said shortly after announcing her entry into the race in March. When a journalist asked her if she would want McCallion’s support, Crombie said she thought the mayor should “be as independent as possible.”

“I don’t think it would be appropriate for the mayor to back any one candidate,” Crombie said.

During her victory speech Monday night, Crombie praised McCallion, who was in attendance. She also vowed to build on McCallion’s legacy.

“Hazel MaCallion has taken our city from farm fields and fruit trees to the sixth largest city in Canada and an economic powerhouse in North America,” she told supporters, according to The Toronto Star.

McCallion had won the last 12 municipal elections, usually with little to no campaigning.

A conflict of interest case involving a development company owned by her son could have seen her ousted from office, but a judge found last year that the conflict was minor and did not warrant such a drastic step.

After hanging a sign for Rob Ford on the main stage, Gail Chernesky kisses the sign at mayoral candidate Doug Ford’s election night headquarters in Toronto on Oct. 27.

Rob Ford speaks to supporters after winning his seat on city council at mayoral candidate Doug Ford’s election night headquarters in Toronto on Oct. 27.

John Tory speaks to supporters after winning the Toronto mayoral election in Toronto on Oct. 27.

Supporters of mayoral candidate Doug Ford react after John Tory was announced as the mayor of Toronto at Ford’s election night headquarters in Toronto on Oct. 27.

Members of the media and supporters of mayoral candidate Doug Ford photograph a cake depicting the CN Tower and Rogers Centre at Ford’s election night headquarters in Toronto on Oct. 27.

Toronto mayoral candidate Olivia Chow waves to supporters after John Tory was elected the city’s new mayor in Toronto on Oct. 27.

Toronto mayor candidate Doug Ford sits with his wife Karla, left to right, and daughters Kyla and Kayla at his mother’s home in Toronto on Oct. 27 to watch Toronto civic election results.

John Tory, back right, his wife Barbara Hackett, back left, and their grandchildren, Jack and Isabel, await the results in the Toronto mayoral election in Toronto on Oct. 27.

NEXT: The Fords Through The Years

This photo was posted to Reddit by a user who said his aunt went to middle school with Rob Ford. Can you spot him in this Grade 7 class picture?

The high school years of Rob and his oldest brother, Doug, became the subject of scrutiny later in their political lives. Doug Ford is alleged to have sold hashish for several years in the 1980s, The Globe and Mail reported.

Ford denied the allegations.

Starting in 2001, Ford coached the Don Bosco Eagles, a high school football team in Etobicoke. In 2013, he was dismissed by the school after saying in an interview that many players “come from gangs.”

Doug Ford’s daughter Krista was captain of the Toronto Triumph in the Lingerie Football League, The Toronto Sun reported. The team suspended operations in 2013.

Rob Ford with his wife Renata on election day at his parents’ home in Toronto on October 25, 2010. The couple married in 2000 and have two children, Stephanie and Douglas.

Rob and Doug’s sister Kathy and their mother Diane Ford sat down for a TV interview after Rob admitted in late 2013 to using crack.

Kathy, who was later videotaped watching her brother smoke crack, defended her brother’s decision to stay in office despite the revelations.

“Robbie is not a drug addict,” she said.

“I know because I’m a former addict.”

Doug Ford followed his brother to city hall, winning Rob’s Ward 2 council seat when Rob became mayor in 2010.

NEXT: Doug Ford Means Business

Councillor Doug Ford and his brother Mayor Rob Ford gets into a shouting match with members of the public in chambers at City Hall in Toronto on November 18, 2013 during a special council meeting to limit more of his powers. (Deborah Baic/The Globe and Mail)

Toronto City Councillor Doug Ford makes his way to the council chamber as councillors look to pass motions to limit the powers of his brother, Mayor Rob Ford, in Toronto on Monday November 18, 2013.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Councillor Doug Ford reads a prepared statement to the media outside his brother Rob’s office at Toronto city hall on May 22 2013. Rob Ford, the mayor of Toronto, is at the centre of a scandal stemming from a video allegedly showing him smoking a crack pipe. (Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail)

Toronto city councillor Doug Ford leaves a radio station where he has a program with his brother, Mayor Rob Ford, in Toronto on Sunday May 26, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim

Toronto City Councillor Doug Ford reads a statement to journalists at Toronto City Hall on May 22, 2013. The man who has most strongly defended Toronto Mayor Rob Ford against allegations he was filmed smoking crack cocaine is vehemently denying a claim that he himself once dealt in hashish. The Globe and Mail alleges in a story published Saturday that the mayor’s brother, Coun. Doug Ford, was once a drug dealer in ’80s — a claim denounced by his lawyer as false. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

City councillor Doug Ford defends his brother, Mayor Rob Ford, at city council in Toronto on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Renata Ford attends a news conference as her husband Toronto Mayor Rob Ford speaks to the media on Thursday November 14, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Mayor Rob Ford’s wife Renata Ford, centre, is escorted to her car by staff after attending a press conference with her husband at city hall in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Mayor Rob Ford’s wife Renata Ford, second left, is escorted to her car by staff after attending a press conference with her husband at city hall in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford stands at an elevator door as he tries to escort his wife Renata out of a news conference on Thursday November 14, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford (centre) jostles with the media as he tries to escort his wife Renata (left) out of a news conference in Toronto on Thursday November 14, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Rob Ford on election day at his family’s (mom and dad’s) home in Toronto on October 25, 2010, watching as the results come up on the TV announcing him as the winner, and shortly afterwards, hearing that his brother Doug won as well. Hugs from his mother, Diane, and his wife Renata.This is when he found out his brother had won as well. Renata, Rob’s wife, threw her arms up, as did mom, Diane, at left. (Photo by Peter Power/The Globe and Mail)

Mayor-elect Rob Ford being greeted by his supporters and making his speech at theToronto Congress Centre in Toronto on October 25, 2010, after winning the election. This is where he said the win was for his father. Mom, Diane, is left and wife Renata is right. (Photo by Peter Power/The Globe and Mail)

Mayor-elect Rob Ford being greeted by his supporters and making his speech at theToronto Congress Centre in Toronto on October 25, 2010, after winning the election. This is where he said the win was for his father. Mom, Diane, is left and wife Renata is right. (Photo by Peter Power/The Globe and Mail)

Mayor Rob Ford gets a kiss from his wife Renata at city hall council chambers as he was officially sworn in as new mayor of Toronto Dec. 7, 2010.(Photo by Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail)

Next: Rob Ford’s Biggest Gaffes

In March, former mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson accused Rob Ford of grabbing her behind while at an event. She later suggested the mayor was so out of it that she wondered if he was on cocaine. Ford has denied the accusations.

In November of 2012, an Ontario Superior Court Judge ordered Rob Ford to be removed from office for violating Toronto’s Conflict-of-Interest Act. The ruling stemmed from Ford’s participation in a council vote to recommend he repay donations that he solicited for his private football foundation using official city letterhead. After weeks of uncertainty about who would replace Ford, the mayor won his appeal, allowing him to remain in power.

Ford’s role as coach of a high school football team has repeatedly landed him in hot water. From a city bus used to ferry the team home after a reported brawl, to missed council meetings and court appearances, Ford’s gridiron exploits have made headlines again and again. Despite the controversy, Ford has maintained that he’s not giving up his other job to focus on running the city.

On a trade mission to Chicago, Ford infamously confused Winnipeg and Windsor, a verbal stumble that prompted chuckles on both sides of the border.

A video clip of Ford falling while attempting to throw a football at a Grey Cup event was quickly turned into GIF image that went viral.

In October of 2012, a photo hit the web of Ford reading while driving. The mayor admitted to doing it, but refused to hire a driver, despite pleas from the police and political allies.

The incident was far from the first Fordian fail on the road. The mayor has also been accused of giving a motorist the finger while driving and has admitted that he pleaded guilty to refusing to provide a breath sample after driving under the influence of alcohol in Florida.

A photo hit the web in September of 2012 of Ford posing with a neo-Nazi dressed in a foreign military uniform. Ford explained that he was unaware of the man’s political beliefs. At least one major Jewish group said it was satisfied the mayor meant no harm.

For several months in 2012, Ford took part in a very public weight-loss campaign. Weigh-ins staged before the press meant the mayor had nowhere to hide, and after some initial success, he actually started putting on pounds. Ford admitted to giving up soon after.

Ford called the police in May of 2012 and alleged that Toronto Star reporter Daniel Dale trespassed on his property. Dale denied the allegations and said Ford approached him with a raised fist. Ford would subsequently refuse to speak with reporters from the Star or to co-operate with the paper in any way.

Late in 2011, Ford called the police after Marg Delahunty (Mary Walsh) and the crew of CBC’s satirical show “This Hour Has 22 Minutes” showed up at his home. While other politicians have reacted with laughter when approached by Delahunty, Ford said the “ambush” at his family home crossed the line.